Chapter 678
Swaeaeaeaeaeaeaeek!
Swaeaeaeaeek!
From the tip of the Grand Duke’s bow, black death flew forth.
With a single strike, hundreds of undead vanished, and the mountain beyond was sheared down. In the far distance, even one of the Abyss’ undead nests collapsed.
An overwhelming might.
Each time she drew her bowstring, countless dead were reduced to dust and scattered. She was overwhelming the army single-handedly.
[Come forth, Hate.]
At her gesture, Hate, the Master of the 2nd Legion, appeared. The headless knight lifted her onto his horse and transformed his body to entwine the Bow of Tempest.
Gigigigigigigi!
As the transformed bowstring was drawn to its limit, the wailing of spirits resounded.
When she aimed her arrow at the sky and let it loose, the gray snowstorm clouds tore open like a donut hole. Soon, the heavens bruised black, and a rain of pitch-dark arrows poured down in unison.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwa!
The black rain fell, delivering judgment upon the enemy. Holes riddled the undead’s bodies, which crumbled like sandcastles.
“Am… amazing!”
“As expected!”
“We have the Grand Duke!”
Uwaaaaaaaaaah!
The morale of the Northern Army, once crawling on the ground at the sight of the undead Kingdom Army, soared in an instant thanks to the Grand Duke’s dominance. She galloped on horseback, firing arrows without pause.
‘Incredible.’
Even Simon could only watch with his mouth agape.
“What are you all doing!”
General Ganiro shouted.
“How long will you allow the Grand Duke to fight alone! Follow behind her!”
Oooooooooooooh!
The Northern Army’s banners unfurled, and warriors charged with ferocious roars.
“For the liberation of the North!”
“You dog bastards!”
“Kill them all!”
With savage momentum, the Northern Army began butchering the undead Kingdom soldiers. Their morale surged.
“Grand Duke.”
Ganiro rushed to her side.
“You’ve done enough. Please leave the rest to us here. You must conserve your strength for the coming battle against the North Star.”
[Understood.]
At those words, the Grand Duke finally dismounted. The bow, the saddle, and the armor morphed back into Hate’s form.
[Do not relent in your assault.]
“Yes. Leave the rear to me, Ganiro!”
The Northern Army pressed the front, while the 2nd and 7th Legions charged on both flanks, pushing the Kingdom Army back.
Having poured out her power to break the enemy’s momentum, the Grand Duke shifted to command.
[Lower the Left Red Banner to guard against the flank attack. Archers, retreat ten paces. The 3rd unit of riders is too far ahead—keep pace!]
She directed the Northern Army while simultaneously controlling the 2nd Legion with her thoughts in minute detail. Step by step, they broke through the enemy ranks.
Simon would not be outdone.
‘Erze! Fall back and lure them in with webs. Prince! Use your crown to halt the zombies at eleven o’clock!’
[Yes, Legion Commander!]
[Got it!]
With the Grand Duke and Simon’s prowess, even the barrier of the so-called new Three Brothers prepared by the North Star was gradually being dismantled.
But then—
Kiiiiing!
Kiiiiiing!
The sky turned red. The bodies of undead began to flush with crimson energy, growing stronger.
[Hahahahaha!]
Simon turned his head.
Chronos, tattered from the Grand Duke’s arrows, reappeared laughing. His chest upward remained zombie flesh, but below he had hastily reassembled himself with skeleton bones.
[You shall never defeat the great North Star!]
Red moons rose one after another in the sky.
As Chronos unleashed his specialty, the undead grew stronger. Zombies once killed by a single warrior now took three or four to handle, and still held the advantage.
“The zombies are growing like monsters!”
“What the hell is that?!”
Chronos’ wide-area curse. While empowering his undead, it simultaneously weakened the Northern Army.
[This is the true power of becoming the ‘First’.]
Countless moons shone in the sky.
[I shall command the continent’s strongest army, an army that can never be defeated!]
Swaeaeaeaeaeaeaeek!
The Grand Duke’s arrow immediately flew. Each time she shattered one of the red moons above, the curse strengthening the undead dissipated.
[You dare oppose me to the end, Grand Duke!]
Chronos raised more moons.
[Hmph, let’s see who wins.]
The Grand Duke laughed, moving her bow.
The battle between the two titans—summoning moons and shattering them—grew ever more ferocious.
[What are you doing, Second Brother!]
Chronos shrieked.
[Bring me that woman’s head now!]
Puuuuung!
From the frontline of the Northern Army, suddenly soldiers were flung aside as if struck by a fountain of force.
“Hm?”
“Something’s coming!”
Dudududududu!
With the thunder of hooves, a man with arms protruding from his throat swung a sword.
Kwoooaang!
The slash erupted like a field of spikes, skewering soldiers who died instantly.
[Kill me… kill me… kill me…!]
It was Romario, the Kingdom Army’s commander, now turned undead.
All across his body, additional arms sprouted. Twisted and writhing in torment, they reflected Romario’s agonized emotions.
[Kill me…!]
Grasping his sword with both hands, he cleaved downward. From the ground erupted a mountain of black spikes, perforating soldiers into honeycombs.
“Gah!”
“Kuheuk!”
Warriors coughed blood and collapsed.
Kwaaang!
Romario charged forward on horseback. None could stop him. Spears and arrows were caught and deflected by the countless arms sprouting across his body.
“Damn, he’s disgustingly strong!”
“The Kingdom’s commander… one of the Three Brothers?!”
Romario increased his speed—his destination: the Grand Duke.
Seeing him approach, the Grand Duke ceased her suppression of Chronos and aimed her bowstring at Romario.
[Kill meeeeeee!]
Just as Romario was about to reach her—
Kkaaaaaaang!
A man leapt in like a thunderbolt, swinging his sword. The strike was so powerful that Romario’s massive frame and horse were pushed back.
“Your opponent is me, Romario!”
Ganiro’s eyes flared.
[Kill me! Kill me! Kill me!]
Romario’s berserk mind lashed out violently.
“What the hell have you become, Romario?! Pathetic!”
Chaeaeaeang!
The two warriors clashed savagely, blades sparking.
* * *
“Haa… haa…”
Sweat beaded on Simon’s brow as he commanded.
‘There are far more enemies than I thought!’
The undead Kingdom Army wasn’t all. The North Star kept sending fresh reinforcements.
Undead streamed endlessly from the mountains, giant Yeti Zombies, skeletons, all growing more vicious and swift under the influence of Chronos’ red moons.
Swaeaeaeaeek!
Swaeaeaeaeaeaeaeek!
The Grand Duke’s arrows relentlessly pierced Chronos’ moons, hunting down named enemies, yet the enemy host seemed endless.
Her Darkness was not infinite. Worse still, she was firing her bow while simultaneously commanding the 2nd Legion.
‘Our legion has more leeway. We’ll have to move more proactively.’
Simon swung his arm.
‘Akemius! Block the enemies descending from the northern mountain range!’
[Yes, Young Master!]
‘Feer! Circle around and strike their rear!’
[Khrhrh! Understood, boy!]
While fending off undead swarming from every side, Simon steadily tightened the encirclement around the Kingdom Army. The North Star must have realized the importance of this battle, fresh reinforcements poured even from the Abyss itself.
It was clear: this was a decisive showdown.
Especially Chronos, now the “First” of the Three Brothers, proved to be an unimaginably troublesome foe. He must never be allowed to escape. He had to be slain here.
[Legion Commander! Undead are swarming from the right flank!]
‘I’ll go myself!’
Though the Grand Duke had ordered him to conserve his strength, Simon felt a burning need to act. He dashed forward, activating a magic circle.
<Simon Follentia’s Original – Royal Guard>
Uuuuung!
Uuuuung!
Turquoise Darkness surged, seeping into the skeletons Simon drew from subspace. Their swords shimmered fluorescent, turquoise cloaks whipping behind them.
‘Let’s go!’
Wearing the crown pressed firmly to his brow, Simon personally led the Royal Guard in slashing through the oncoming undead.
Chronos’ curses kept shifting, changing the undead’s abilities. Sometimes their flesh and bones hardened, sometimes their speed exploded to extremes.
Of course, each time, the Grand Duke’s arrows shattered another moon, dispelling the effect.
[You never give up, Grand Duke!]
Chronos’ voice rang from afar.
[Our youngest, Third Brother! Only you remain! Are you ready at last?]
“!”
Simon froze at those words.
Come to think of it—the “Third” had yet to appear.
‘Think. If the First is Chronos, and the Second is Romario… then who’s the Third?’
Biting his lip, Simon scanned the battlefield.
Among the Kingdom Army, who could it be?
Then, suddenly, he spotted a familiar face.
‘Of course!’
Count Voldemont.
Now a zombie, he stumbled forward with vacant eyes, muttering “Uuhhh…” Simon clenched his teeth and charged.
‘Follow me!’
It was highly likely Voldemont was the Third. Whatever his powers, he had to be eliminated before he could unleash them.
Simon leapt forward, his Royal Guard trailing behind.
Each flash of the turquoise blade severed zombie heads by the dozens.
Keekeeeee!
Kiiiii!
As though protecting the Third, zombies hurled themselves forward en masse, blocking his path.
Chwaaaaak!
Fluorescent blades carved countless slashes through the air, reducing the zombies to meat scraps.
Simon forced open a gap, then leapt high. In midair, he reversed his grip on the Royal Guard’s sword—
Srung!
—and struck off Voldemont’s head.
The zombie count’s neck soared skyward.
‘Rest in peace, Count Voldemont.’
Rising, Simon offered a moment’s silent prayer.
Thunk.
Degurururururu.
The severed head rolled across the ground.
And then a thought struck him.
‘That was… too easy.’
Voldemont was—
Just another common zombie.
He wasn’t the Third.
[Ahahaha.]
Tok.
At that moment, Simon felt a hand rest upon his shoulder.
He hadn’t sensed a thing. Chills shot down his spine as he turned.
‘!’
[It’s been a while, Simon.]
The undead face was one he knew.
Long hair, pallid skin, claw-marked wounds across her body.
And a tall female zombie.
She smiled loosely.
Srung!
Simon slashed, but she vaulted away lightly. His arm trembled.
“Why… why are you here?!”
Simon cried out.
“Grayson!”
The milkmaid Grayson grinned.
[Hehe.]
She spread her arms wide.
Flapflapflapflap!
Flapflapflap!
Countless undead birds erupted from her back.
[I’m sorry. It seems I’m the ‘Third’.]
“…!”
Simon’s mind went blank, as though struck on the back of the skull. He barely managed to regain focus.
‘Calm down.’
Slowly, he steadied his breathing.
‘Grayson was part of the Kingdom Army too.’
The catastrophe couldn’t be undone. The only question was how to respond now.
‘Feer.’
[What is it, boy?]
Simon leveled his sword, focusing his will.
‘Is there any way… to bring the Three Brothers under our legion as undead?’
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